Countries in Asia-Pacific region calls for stronger regional cooperation on aging

As the Asia-Pacific region grapples with an aging population, the ASEAN Plus Three International Forum on Response to Aging convened in Beijing on Wednesday to address this pressing challenge.

East Asia, the fastest-aging region globally, currently holds 37 percent of the world's elderly population. By mid-century, ASEAN countries, along with China, Japan, and South Korea are expected to confront an even more severe aging challenge. 

To address the collective issue, delegations from the 13 countries gathered in Beijing to explore regional and domestic solutions. China's Minister of Civil Affairs Lu Zhiyuan highlighted the significance of this event against the backdrop of accelerating global aging.    During the conference, delegates discussed further intergovernmental collaborations, and shared best practices to inspire insights.

China's approach to aging management, which integrates advocating active and healthy aging through its economic and social development endeavors, establishing well-rounded government policies, and strengthening elderly care services, has gained recognition.

"The cooperation between Laos and China is great cooperation between two countries. There are many best practices in China, I think not only for Laos but also for the internationals that we need to learn from. Particularly in terms of human resources development, since you have universities. In Laos, we have the [people] to work in the field of [elderly care], but we need to upgrade more than knowledge in the field," said Chomyaeng Phengthongsawat, Director General of Policy for Devotee, Disabilities, and Older Persons under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos.

As a major platform dedicated to addressing aging populations, the forum gathers collective efforts to foster regional strategy networks and collective response, setting a cooperative model for the world to tackle the global challenge.

Countries in Asia-Pacific region calls for stronger regional cooperation on aging

External financial assets of China's banking sector exceeded 1.56 trillion U.S. dollars at the end of September, according to official data released on Thursday.

The banking sector's external financial liabilities stood at about 1.5 trillion dollars at the end of September, resulting in 61.3 billion dollars of net external assets, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Among the external financial assets, deposit and loan assets totaled 953.7 billion dollars, accounting for 61 percent of the total; bond assets stood at 238.2 billion dollars, accounting for 24 percent of the total; and other assets, including equity, were 238.2 billion dollars, accounting for 15 percent of the total.

Among the external liabilities, deposit and loan liabilities were 712.9 billion dollars or 47 percent of the total; bonds investment reached 379.7 billion dollars, accounting for 25 percent of the total; and equity and other liabilities were 410.3 billion dollars or 27 percent of the total.

Banking sector's external financial assets exceed 1.56 trln USD